e-Key v3 - Colophospermum
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Fabaceae - Caesalpinioideae - Detarieae - Colophospermum J.Kirk ex J.Léonard

Description :

  • Unarmed trees, small to medium-sized or shrubs
  • Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets opposite, obliquely ovate, with 7-12 prominent nerves arising from point of attachment, without midrib, coriaceous, with many pellucid gland-dots; stipules small, caducous
  • Flowers bisexual, irregular, small, in racemes or panicles; bracts minute; bracteoles 0
  • Calyx with 4 sepals
  • Corolla 0
  • Stamens 20-25, free; anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing by longitudinal slits
  • Ovary stalked, compressed, glabrous, with 1 lateral ovule; style lateral
  • Pod compressed, usually reniform, 1-seeded, indehiscent, with many scattered glands
  • Seed large, compressed, reniform, corrugated, with many small reddish resin glands
  • x = 9 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Colophospermum J.Kirk ex J.Léonard
    • Léonard: 390 (1949)
    • Hutchinson: 255 (1964)
    • Ross: 16 (1977)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Colophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex J.Léonard (= Copaifera mopane Kirk ex Benth.), south-tropical Africa; Namibia to Mpumalanga lowveld

References:

  • HUTCHINSON, J. 1964. Order LEGUMINALES. The genera of flowering plants 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford
  • LÉONARD, J.J.G. 1949. Notulae Systematicae IV ( Caesalpiniaceae - Amherstieae africanae americanaeque) Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de l'État Bruxelles 19
  • ROSS, J.H. 1977. Fabaceae . Caesalpinioideae . Flora of southern Africa 16,2